Saturday, March 21, 2009

Ire On Fire

By the time 1981 rolled around, I’d already lived in London for a year. I had seen what was going on in Northern Ireland through the lens of the British Press. Though I was only 25 years old, and not at all political, I was disturbed by what I’d read and saw on TV, compared to what I’d heard from people on the ground.

Back in New York, I heard that another hunger strike was about to begin in the Maze Prison in Northern Ireland. I also heard that a man 2 years my elder was leading the hunger strike. His name was Bobby Sands.

I felt like Bobby Sands was my brother. Maybe it was because we shared a favorite verse from the Bible (No greater love has a man, than he would lay down his life for his friends). Maybe it was his shear devotion to a cause. I don’t know. But I felt like we were related, if not genetically, then spiritually. In fact when I heard about the fast unto death, I thought about joining, but was too afraid of dying.

Bobby finally died after not eating for 66 days. I cried when I heard about it.

This morning I saw the movie “Hunger”, which relived the months and weeks before the hunger strike as well as the strike itself. It was hard to watch, as it brought back some painful memories that have dissipated over the 28 years since it all went down. I decided after watching the film that I NEED to write this post for me and anyone who cares about what happened in Northern Ireland back then.

Shortly after Bobby died I wrote a song called Ire On Fire, which I’ve dedicated to his memory. These are the lyrics...

I sing this song about IrelandAnd about what’s going onThe country there’s on fire manAnd I’m wishin’ I was wrong

It don’t take xray visionTo see the dark despairAnd the only answer missin’Is how to get England out of there

So, toora loora looraToora loora layThe children cry while their fathers dieAnd it can’t go on this way

The winds blow cool in IrelandAlong the mossy banksBut the quiet breeze has been drowned out nowBy the sound of bombs and tanks

The Irish have their troublesAnd they’re still by far not resolvedBut the bloody mess could be dealt with bestIf the English weren’t involved

So, toora loora looraToora loora layThe children cry while their fathers dieAnd it can’t go on this way

My bloodline flows from IrelandLike that of Bobby SandsAnd I feel that he was a brother to meThough we’ve come from different lands

So I’ll sing this song about IrelandAnd about what’s going onFrom North to South by the word of mouthI’ll sing what’s going wrong

So, toora loora looraToora loora layThe children cry while their fathers dieAnd it can’t go on this wayToora loora looraToora loora layThe children cry while their fathers dieAnd it can’t go on this wayIt can’t go on this wayThey won’t let it go on this way